Thanks to Hope Grows I have seen enormous coral reefs come back to life and give hope to their surroundings, the nearby people, and the coastal ecosystem itself. Seeing people who share in their interests and hope come together for this project makes me proud to be on this team. We think together, prepare together, go to the field together, dive together, and make big builds together, all with the motivation to restore one of the most beautiful ecosystems in the world: coral reefs. I believe that Sheba Hope Grows will continue to grow stronger and bigger around the world. The distance does not bother us; the ocean that connects us creates one community.

To me, Kuleana means taking responsibility to honor our past, take action in the present, and assure abundance for future generations. Kuleana is rooted in taking action and finding solutions, and that's what separates Hope Grows from other advocacy and policy talk that dominates the conservation world. The highlight of our partnership is that we are leading by an example of taking action, not just talking points and rhetoric. The Hope Grows movement exemplifies what community empowerment and corporate kuleana/responsibility could be for multiple industries around the world, and that's the only hope we have to make scalable and impactful change.

Having been involved in this program since 2022, Hope Grows has given me a one-of-a-kind opportunity to protect and restore critically threatened coral reef ecosystems from a researcher's perspective. I was really amazed with how this program works. Sheba Hope Grows is not a “one and done” restoration program, it is a long commitment and dedication from all parties involved. With the hope and motivation for a better future for coral, local island communities, researchers, and field officers work hand-in-hand to bring this goal to life. Protecting the beauty of our coral reefs, may be a never-ending journey, but I believe all the effort we have given will not be in vain. I have big hope for Sheba Hope Grows, and it's an honor to be a part of this program.

I was left feeling incredibly inspired after spending a week in the Maldives contributing to the Sheba Hope Grows restoration project, in partnership with Maldives Coral Institute. It was a privilege to have contributed to the world’s largest coral restoration program as the first UK Hope Advocate (alongside the Maldivian Hope Advocate, Aiham) and to capture the story of the restoration through film and photography. A big highlight for me was the people I met; from the passionate team and volunteers to the friendly islanders who welcomed us into their homes and shared their stories of the reef with us. I also witnessed how the first phase of the project (completed in 2021) had dramatically changed a large area of previously degraded reef. It was an unforgettable experience to snorkel above both phases of the project - it filled me with hope to see the thousands of planted corals, which over time will kickstart the reefs natural recovery process. I came back to the UK feeling incredibly inspired and empowered to continue my journey within marine conservation, and I'm super grateful to be involved in the next stages of this ambitious and successful program as it expands across the globe.